A Mitsubishi VIN sold in the U.S. usually starts with JA4 (Japan-built SUVs like the Outlander, Outlander Sport and Eclipse Cross), JA3 (Japan-built cars like the Lancer), 4A4 (Outlander Sports built in Normal, Illinois) or ML3 (the Thailand-built Mirage). Positions 4-8 hold the model, body, drive and engine, 9 is the check digit, 10 is the model year and 11 is the plant. Decode it on vPIC, then check recalls by the full VIN, because several big Mitsubishi campaigns hit specific build ranges and even specific states.
We decoded Mitsubishi patterns in NHTSA's free vPIC decoder on October 13, 2026. Budget cars attract lazy listings, and the mid October 2026 crop is no different: an Outlander Sport called AWD when the VIN says front drive, a PHEV that turns out to be the gas truck. The general position-by-position rules are in our guide on how to decode a VIN. This page is the Mitsubishi-specific part.
Positions 1-3: JA4, JA3, 4A4, 4A3 and ML3
vPIC lists JA3 as Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, passenger car, and JA4 as Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, multipurpose vehicle (oddly, that JA4 record lists both Nissan and Mitsubishi as makes). 4A3 and 4A4 belong to Mitsubishi Motors North America for cars and MPVs, ML3 is a Mitsubishi Motors Corporation car code, and JA7 is the truck code. In our runs a 2014 Outlander Sport starting 4A4AR3AU and a 2015 starting 4A4AP3AU both decoded to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. A 2019 starting JA4AR3AU and a 2020 starting JA4AP3AU decoded to Mizushima in Okayama, Japan. So the same nameplate switched WMI, and the plant tells you which era you are holding.
Positions 4-8: model, drive and engine
The middle block is where Mitsubishi hides the useful stuff. On the Outlander Sport, the AR patterns we tested came back four-wheel drive and the AP patterns came back front drive, all with a 2.0-liter MIVEC four. A 2016 Outlander starting JA4AZ3A3 returned SE/SEL trim, 4WD and the 2.4-liter MIVEC from Okazaki. A 2018 Outlander PHEV starting JA4J24A5 decoded as a plug-in hybrid with a 2.0-liter engine. The redesigned 2022 Outlander starting JA4J4UA8 returned a 2.5-liter four with a CVT, and a 2023 Outlander PHEV starting JA4T5VA9 came back as a plug-in with a 2.4. An Eclipse Cross starting JA4ATAAA or JA4ATWAA returned the 1.5-liter turbo, and a Mirage starting ML32A3HJ returned the 1.2-liter three-cylinder hatch, while ML32F3FJ came back as the Mirage G4 sedan. If a listing says PHEV and vPIC says gasoline, believe the VIN and ask questions.
The Nissan connection, only where it is real
For the 2022-and-newer Outlander, the overlap with Nissan is documented. Car and Driver's 2022 test explains that Nissan developed the platform and powertrain for the 2021 Rogue and shared them with Mitsubishi for the fourth-generation Outlander, with a 181-hp 2.5-liter four and a CVT. MotorTrend adds that the two share a 106.5-inch wheelbase, while the S-AWC all-wheel-drive system is Mitsubishi's own. So a 2022 Outlander and a Rogue share a lot of hardware under different badges. If you are comparing the two, our Nissan VIN decoder covers the Rogue side.
Positions 9-11: check digit, year and plant
Position 9 is the check digit from 49 CFR 565.15; it catches typos, not clones. Position 10 is the year (E 2014, F 2015, G 2016, J 2018, K 2019, L 2020, N 2022, P 2023 in our runs). Position 11 is the plant: Z was Okazaki, U was Mizushima, E was Bloomington-Normal, and H was Laem Chabang in Thailand for the Mirage.
Mitsubishi recalls to run by VIN
These are the ones we would check first, all confirmed in NHTSA filings. Recall 18V-070 covered 170,354 2014-2016 Outlanders and 2013-2016 Outlander Sports whose rear calipers can let water in, corroding and binding the parking brake actuator. Recall 25V-507 covered 121,529 2014-2020 Outlanders and 2018-2022 Outlander PHEVs sold or registered in a long list of salt-belt states, because the liftgate gas springs can corrode, lose pressure and rupture or let the gate fall; owner letters went out October 6, 2025, and a 2026 filing, 26V-252, covers the same liftgate problem. Recall 22V-563 covered 76,508 2019-2022 Outlander Sports with a CVT and mechanical key, where a CVT software error can stall the engine at speed. On the Mirage, 17V-686 covered 83,555 2014-2018 cars whose air bag control unit can misread vibration as a fault and disable the air bags.
That liftgate one bugs us, honestly. A used Outlander from Ohio that moved to Arizona can still be in the population, and the seller in Arizona may never have heard of it. Run the VIN, every time.
After the decode: history and cost
The decode will not show a salvage brand, a flood claim or a rental past. CARFAX says its reports pull title brands, odometer readings, ownership and reported accidents from DMV, insurer and shop records. Pull it yourself instead of trusting a printout, and walk through our dealer buying checklist before you sign. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.
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